Blind molding



Feb; 9, `1,943. c. J. DAylf-:s sfr AL 'BLIND .MOLDING Filed om.l 20. 1541 FIGA;

INVENToRs CLARENCE J. DAvlE's BY ALVIN c.|.|ND Wmv/F1 @MTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1943 BLIND MoLDINdV clarence J.V Davies and Alvin c. Lina, Detroit, Mich., assignors to National Automotive Fibres, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 20, 1941, Serial No. 415,834

S Claims.

The present invention relates to a blind molding and more particularly to an article used to secure together two pieces of fabric and to fasten the two pieces of fabric to an article.

The present invention finds its widest field of utility in the manufacture of automobile trim panels which are ordinarily covered with fabric, leather, or other suitable trim material.

In the past when it was desired to obtain a twotone result as by the use of two differently colored pieces of fabric, the common practice was to sew the two fabrics together so as to provide a sewed seam and to thereafter apply the two fabrics as a covering over the panel board. This method was not entirely satisfactory for a number of reasons. In the first place, the sewing operation was undesirable. Furthermore, the sewed seam did not exhibit absolute straight-line regularity, particularly after the composite fabric was applied to the panel board. In many cases the resulting seam was so irregular that it was necessary to cover the seam to conceal it. This led to further difficulties because in many cases the sewed seam after application to the panel board, deviated so far from a straight-line relationship that it was necessary to employ a covering element or molding strip of substantial and undesirable width.

According to the present invention we'p-rovide a molding strip which is adapted to serve a dual purpose. The molding strip, in the first place, serves to unite adjacent edges of the two different pieces of fabric so that its rst function is to serve as the equivalent of a seam between the two fabrics. In the second place, it serves the function of a break-over strip around which the edge of one of the fabrics is folded. This insures an absolute straight-line relationship of the resulting line of juncture between the two fabrics.

It is very desirable that the line of juncture of the two fabrics as viewed outside of the panel, shall be uniform along opposite sides, and accordingly the strip is formed so as to provide an elevated portion along one side of the seam to More specifically it is an obj ect of the invention f to provide a blind molding strip having an edge flange reversely bent upon the main portion of the strip to cl-ampingly engage the adjacent edges of the two pieces of fabric.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide a blind molding strip having an elongated body portion, a reversely rbent clamping flange along one edge, and an elevated rib along the other edge thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a blind molding strip having a substantially at intermediate portion, a reversely bent clamping portion along one edge, and an elevated bead or Yriser portion along the other edge, said bead or riser portion terminating in a downwardly eX- tending flange adapted to resiliently engage the base'or panel board to which the structure is attached.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a trim panel having a fabric cover made up of a plurality of pieces of fabric joined together along adjacent edges by means of the novel Imolding strip 'disclosed herein.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds vand when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

. Figure 1 is a front elevation of a trim panel made in accordance with the present inventionV and employing the novel blind molding strip disclosed herein;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the trim panel shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 3 3, Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the molding strip disclosed herein.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we have shown a trim panel I, such as is used in the interior trim of automotive vehicles. This trim panel is made up of a panel board which is provided with padding material, such for example as loosely aggregated cotton or other similar fibrous material. In order to imparta finished appearance to the trim panel, the practice is to cover the same with a trim fabric or similar trim materialjusually of the same material as employed in the upholstery. Recently fabrics of different colors have been employed in the upholstery, and it is accordingly desired to employ fabrics of correspondingly different colors on the panel board. Thus for example, in Figure 1, we have indicated the lower portion of the board as covered by a fabric l I, whose color is indicated by the hatching to be brown, whereas the upper portion of the panel board is covered with a different trim fabric I2 which is indicated by the hatching to be of orange color. These two fabrics come together along a seam I3 which, as shown in Figure 1, is horizontal and a straight line.

In order to provide the trim fabrics I I and I2 as shown in Figure 1 with the absolute straight seam I3, the construction illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is employed. Referring now to Figure 3, we have indicated the panel board at I5 and padding material at I6. The padding material as shown in this figure has been removed along a band of width suicient to receive the blind molding strip 2D. The molding strip 20, as best seen in Figure 4, has an intermediate flat portion 2|, and a reversely bent clamping flange 22 extending along one edge thereof. Along the other edge of the intermediate flat portion 2| is a raised bead or riser 23 terminating in a downwardly extending flange 24. The molding strip 20 is made of thin gauge sheet metal of suiiicient strength to serve the functions later ascribed thereto. It will be observed in Figure 4 that the flange 21| of the strip normally extends downwardly below a line 25, which indicates the plane of the bottom surface of the center portion 2| extended. Accordingly, when the center portion 2| is secured down tightly against a fiat surface,

the edge of the flange 24 will engage the surface and will be resiliently moved upwardly. This will insure that theouter edge of the ange 24 will always be in rm engagement with the surface to which the molding strip 20 is attached.

As best seen in Figure 3, which shows the moldi ing strip in assembled relation with the trim fabrics II and I2, an edge I I a of the fabric is introduced into the space between the at body portion 2| and the flange 22. The corresponding edge |2a of the other fabric I2 is likewise introduced into the space between the flat body portion 2| and the flange 22. Conveniently, the free edges of the two fabrics may be matched, as shown in Figure 3. 'I'he flange 22 is then bent downwardly so as to clamp the free edges of the fabrics II and I2 in the position shown. If desired, the body portion 2| of the ange 22 may be provided with punched projections whichwill firmly clamp the edges of the fabric, or, if preferred, they may be pierced or provided with fastening elements which extend therethrough. In Figure 3 we have shown fastening elements 26, which may take the form of staples extending through the flange 22, the edges Ila and I2a of the fabrics, and the body portion 2| of the molding strip, and also extending through the panel board I5 so as to clamp the assembly thereon.

When the assembly is clamped down onto the panel board I5, as shown in Figure 3, the iiange 24 of the strip is bent upwardly and will be retained by its resilience in firm contact with the surface of the panel board I5.

As best seen in Figure 3, the flange 22 is of slightly less width than the base portion 2|, and the amount by which the width of the base strip 2| exceeds the width of the fiange 22 is approximately equal to the thickness of the fabrics II and I2, which must extend between the bead or riser 23 and the free edge of the flange 22 when the same is bent downwardly. This insures what may be referred to as a tight seam, which further adds to the attractive appearance of the composite article.

Ordinarily in producing a trim panel the two fabrics will first be assembled together with a mplding strip. Thereafter both of the fabrics will be extended away from the center portion of the molding strip so as to overlie the bead or riser 23, and to expose the downwardly bent flange 22 for further operations.

The strip 20 may then be accurately located on the panel board in this desired location and permanently stapled or otherwise secured thereto. Thereafter the fabric, whose inner edge is uppermost or directly against the bent flange 22, is drawn rearwardly over the panel to the position shown in Figure 3, while the other fabric is permitted to remain in its former position. This results in folding the one fabric, as for example fabric I 2 in Figure 3, over the straight edge of the flange 22 so that the flange 22 thus serves the function of a breaker strip and insures a substantially straight edge for the seam I3.

It will be observed that above the seam I3, as seen in Figure 3, and underneath the fabric I2, there is located the following elements: the bent flange 22, the fabric edge |2a, the fabric edge Ia, and the base portion 2| of the strip 20. Accordingly, the fabric I2 immediately above the seam I3 is retained in definitely elevated relationship from the panel board I5. It is desirable that the fabric I`| below the seam I3 shall be symmetrically retained in elevated position, and this is the function of the bead or riser 23. By referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the bead or riser 23 is of just sufiicient height to cause the fabrics II and I2 to approach the seam I3 symmetrically.

While we have shown the trim panel provided with padding material as indicated at I6, which raises the fabrics I and I2 somewhat beyond the plane of the seam I3, it will be understood that this is not a necessary condition and that in fact, if desired, the padding material can be entirely omitted.

While we have illustrated our blind molding strip in conjunction with an automotive trim panel and have further described only one speciiic form thereof, it will be understood that this has been done solely to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A trim panel comprising a panel board, a blind molding strip secured thereto, said molding strip having a reversely bent flange extending along one edge, a cover over said panel board made up of separate pieces of trim fabric secured to said panel board adjacent its edges and having adjacent edges thereof held against relative movement beneath the reversely bent flange, said pieces extending in opposite directions from said strip, whereby said strip is completely concealed and the free edge of said flange forms a breakover strip for one of said pieces, said strip also having means for spacing the other of said pieces from the panel board a distance .substantially equal to the combined thickness of said clamped edges of fabric and the clamping portions of said molding strip.

2. A trim panel comprising a panel board, a blind molding strip secured thereto, said molding strip having a reversely bent flange extending along one edge, a cover over said panel board made up of separate pieces of trim material secured to said panel board adjacent its edges and having adjacent edges thereof clamped beneath the reversely bent flange, said pieces extending in opposite directions from said strip, whereby said strip is completely concealed and the free edge of said fiange forms a break-over strip for one of said pieces, the other edge of said strip having a raised bead or riser of a height about equal to the combined double thickness of strip material and the clamped edges of said pieces of trim material.

3. A trim panel comprising a panel board, a blind molding strip secured thereto, said molding strip having a reversely bent flange extending along one edge, a cover over said panel board made up of separatepieces of trim fabric secured to said panel board adjacent its edges and having adjacent edges thereof clamped beneath the reversely bent ange, said pieces extending in opposite directions from said strip, whereby said strip is completely concealed and the free edge of said flange forms a break-over strip for one of said pieces, said strip being provided adjacent said flange with a raised bead or riser for spacing the other of said pieces from the panel board a distance substantially equal to the combined double thickness of strip material and the clamped edges of said pieces of trim fabric.

4. A blind molding strip of sheet metal comprising a fiat base portion having a reversely bent flange of slightly less width than the base portion extending along one edge, and a raised bead or riser extending along the other edge, the free edge of said bead or riser extending downwardly below the plane of the bottom of said base portion, whereby said free edge is bent upwardly when said base portion is secured to a flat surface.

5. A trim panel having a panel board, two sheets of padding material spaced apart on said panel board, two trim fabrics covering said sheets of padding material, one for each of said spaced sheets of padding material, an edge portion of one of said fabrics being folded under said fabric in the space between said sheets of padding material, the second fabric having an inturned portion at the fold of the first mentioned fabric and having an edge portion between the folded edge portion of the rst mentioned fabric and the panel board, and a molding strip secured to the panel board in the space between the sheets of padding material, said strip having a base portion between the panel board and the edge portion aforesaid of the second fabric and having a return bent flange between the unfolded main portion of the first mentioned fabric and the folded edge portion thereof forming a break-over strip for the fold of the first mentioned fabric and clamping the folded edge of the first mentioned fabric and the underlying edge portion of the second fabric upon the base portion of the strip, said strip also having a riser portion beneath the main portion of the second fabric in spaced relation to said flange and supporting the main portion of the second fabric substantially flush with the main portion of the first mentioned fabric and holding the inturned portion of the second fabric close to the fold of the first mentioned fabric.

6. A trim panel having a panel board, two sheets of padding material spaced apart on said panel board, two trim fabrics covering said sheets of padding material, one for each of said spa-ced sheets of padding material, an edge portion of one of said fabrics being folded under said other fabric in the space between said sheets of padding material, the second fabric having an inturned portion at the f-old of the first mentioned fabric and having an edge portion between the folded edge portion of the first mentioned fabric and the panel board, a molding strip having a base portion between the panel boardand the edge portion of the second fabric, having a second portion between the unfolded main portion of the first mentioned fabric and the folded edge portion thereof forming a break-over strip for the fold of the first mentioned fabric and clamping the folded edge of the first mentioned fabric and the underlying edge portion of the second fabric upon the base portion of the strip, and having a third portion beneath the main portion of the second fabric in spaced relation to the second portion aforesaid supporting said main portion of the second fabric substantially flush with the main portion of the first mentioned fabric and holding the inturned portion of the second fabric close to the fold of the first mentioned fabric, and means carried by the panel board and extending through the base and second portions of the strip and through the interposed edge portions of said fabrics to hold the Darts in assembled relation.

7. A molding strip having a substantially flat base attachable to a support, said base being provided at one longitudinal edge thereof with a return bent iiange and provided in laterally spaced relation to the free edge of said flange with an inverted substantially channel shaped riser portion, the outer side of said riser portion extending across and beyond the plane of the base portion for pressure engagement with the support for said base.

8. A metal molding strip having a base of predetermined width attachable to a support, said base being provided at one longitudinal edge thereof with a return bent ange of less width than the base and provided in laterally spaced relation to the free edge of said ange with an,

inverted substantially channel shaped riser portion, the outer side of said riser portion inclining across and beyond the plane of the base portion for pressure engagement with the support for said base.

CLARENCE J. DAVIES. ALVIN C. LIND. 

